How to Change Root Password of MySQL or MariaDB in Linux

If you’re installing MySQL or MariaDB in Linux for the first time, chances are you will be executing mysql_secure_installation script to secure your MySQL installation with basic settings.

One of these settings is, database root password – which you must keep secret and use only when it is required. If you need to change it (for example, when a database administrator changes roles – or is laid off!).

For compatibility across versions, we will use the following statement to update the user table in the mysql database. Note that you need to replace YourPasswordHere with the new password you have chosen for root.

Gabriel Cánepa is a GNU/Linux sysadmin and web developer from Villa Mercedes, San Luis, Argentina. He works for a worldwide leading consumer product company and takes great pleasure in using FOSS tools to increase productivity in all areas of his daily work.

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Just a suggestion about “To validate, exit your current MariaDB session by typing ‘exit””.. let me tell you I’ll suggest checking if the new root PWD is valid ON ANOTHER SESSION, when the previous one is still running, so you could recover easily a typo or mistake if the new PWD is not what you think it should be. sometimes it happens! :-)